Case loading apparatus



y 3, 1962 J. J. BARSKI 3,042,230

CASE LOADING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1962J. J. BARSKI 3,

CASE'LOADING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1962J. J. BARSKI CASE LOADING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Ira/m1 52246 A 02% WWW wrrzws July 3, 1962 J. J. BARSKI 3,042,230

CASE LOADING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,642,230Patented July 3, 1962 3,042,230 CASE LOADING APPARATUS Julius J. Barski,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Warren Du Brolf, Highland Park, Ill. FiledJuly 21, 1960, Ser. No. 44,453 Claims. (Cl. 214-41) This inventionrelates to case loading apparatus, and, more particularly, to apparatussuited for loading stacks of cases on dolly-like vehicles.

The invention finds particular utility in the handling of milk cartoncases which are rectangular baskets constructed of metal wire and whichare equipped with a depending flange on the base for nesting purposes. Adozen or more milk containers, depending upon the container size, may bereceived within the basket-like case.

In the course of the bottling operation, the cases are filled withcartons and then stacked for more convenient distribution. Dairies areequipped with case-stacking machines, but heretofore there has been nosuitable mechanism for transferring the stacked cases from the bottlingline to a vehicle for relocation. In the past, the stacks of cases weretransferred to dollies which were equipped with upstanding ribs adaptedto mate with the basket flanges and thus immobilize the stacks. Thestacks, which may contain three or four superposed cases, must bemaintained in a substantially vertical condition to prevent toppling,notwithstanding the interlocking means provided. Attempts in the past toshift stacks have resulted in substantial losses because of theinstability of the stacks when they are canted.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for shifting stacksof cases, such as the type just described, and which avoids the problemsheretofore encountered. Another object is to provide a novel system forloading dollies with stacks of cases. Still another object is to provideapparatus especially adapted to transfer containers equipped withdepending flanges, whereby the same may be previously stacked ininterlocked relation.

Yet another object is to provide a mechanism for the handling of stacksof milk cases, and the like, wherein the stacks are transferred fromconveyor means to a vehicle without the need for canting the stacks. Afurther object is to provide apparatus for transporting cases equippedwith rectangular positioning rings on the bottom thereof for placing thesame on upstanding, ribequipped dollies. Other objects and advantages ofthis invention may be seen in the details of construction and operationset forth in the specification hereof.

The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrativeembodiment in the accompanying drawing, in WhlCh- FIG. 1 is afragmentary plan schematic view of a dollyloading system embodyingteachings of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing elements in a subsequentstage of operation;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are similar to FIG. 2 but show still later stages of thesystem operation;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a dolly-loading system embodyingteachings of the invention, and is essentially similar to FIG. 1 but inlarge scale and in greater detail;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 withthe baskets partially assembled and prior to the loading of a dolly;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the apparatus in anotheroperating condition, i.e., a stage subsequent to that of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the case transfer mechanismportion of the apparatus; and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram of the dollyizer.

In the illustration given, and with particular reference to FIG. 5 ofthe first drawing sheet, the numeral 10 designates generally a case orwire basket adapted to receive a plurality of milk containers. Asmentioned hereinbefore, each case 10' is equipped on the bottom thereofwith a depending flange or ring which has a rectangular planconfiguration and thus adapts cases to be stacked in interlockingrelation.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the numeral 12 designates a dolly or wheeledplatform vehicle for short distance transport of stacks, as from abottling line to a delivery truck. The dolly 12 is equipped with wheels13, four of which are usually provided, as can be appreciated from aconsideration of FIG. 8 and comparing the same with the showing in FIG.5.

The wheels 13 are suitably mounted on axles 14 in conventional fashion,with the axles 14 in turn being carried in axle brackets 15. Thebrackets 15 in turn are suitably secured to the frame 16 of the dolly12, again in conventional fashion. The frame of the dolly is equippedwith upstanding ribs 17 (see particularly FIGS. 5 and 8), which lockwith the ring 11 of the bottommost case 10 of a stack. In theillustration given, each dolly is equipped with six pairs of ribs 17, sothat the dolly is arranged for supporting six stacks aligned in two rowsof three each.

Referring now to the remaining views on the first sheet of drawings,particularly FIGS. 1-4, the numeral 18 therein designates generally aconveyor. The conveyor, as also seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, is a chainconveyor having a horizontally traveling top run on which stacked casesare transported from the bottling line and, more r immediately, from anupstacking apparatus. In the usual operation, milk containers areindividually filled and then grouped for introduction into a case suchas the basket 10. The filled baskets 10 proceed sequentially to a casestacker, where stacks are developed in the form seen in FIGS. 7 and 8and designated by the symbol A. Illustrative of stacking apparatussuitable for this purpose is that shown in the co-owned application ofWarren Du Broif, Serial No. 741,622, filed June 12, 1958. Illustrativeof the apparatus employed for filling the baskets 10 with the milkcontainers, is that seen in the co-owned application of Warren Du Broif,Serial No. 30,797, filed May 23, 1960.

The conveyor 18 thus may start out with individual empty cases 10 at oneend and at the other end transport stacked filled cases. For the purposeof ease of understanding, the stacked cases A in FIGS. 7 and 8 are shownin the empty condition, and it will be appreciated that the inventivestructure is also capable of advantageous use for such empty cases,since often it is desirable to transport empty cases in stacks fromplace to place within a dairy, or the like.

For the purpose of operating the conveyor 18, a drive 19 is provided(see FIGS. 14, 7 and 8).

Adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor 18, a pusher apparatusgenerally designated 20 is provided. The pusher apparatus 20 operates totranslate the stacked cases transversely of the conveyor d8. A moredetailed description of such a pusher apparatus 20 can be found in theco-owned application of Warren Du Broif, Serial No. 792,828, filedFebruary 12, 1959, and reference may be made to that case for additionaldetails of construction.

cooperatively related with the pusher 20 for orienting stacks fortranslation from the conveyor 18 is an abutment or stop member 21provided as part of a platform 22. As can be seen most clearly in FIG.7, the platform 22 is flush with the top run of the conveyor 18 and islocated on one sde thereof. For this purpose, a suitable 3 supportingframe 22a (designated only in FIG. 7) may be employed. The pusher isequipped with a reciprocably mounted pusher element or ram 23 which iseffective to shift stacks laterally of the conveyor 18.

The platform 22 is equipped with recesses 24 (best seen in FIG. 7) whichare adapted to receive extensible fingers 26 of the transfer mechanismgenerally designated 25. In FIG. 7, the fingers 26 are in a retractedposition, while in FIG. 8 the fingers 26 are extended to positions inwhich the cantilevered ends are supported in the recesses 24. It will benoted that the recesses 24 have a beveled lower lip as at 24a (see alsoFIG. 9) which is effective in positioning the finger for the transferoperation.

The numeral 27 designates a drive mechanism for the fingers 26, and theconstruction of this will be set forth in greater detail hereinafter.The numeral 28 (see particularly FIG. 1) designates a spacer mechanismeffective to space successive stacks apart corresponding to the ultimateorientation on the dollies 12.

For the purpose of clarifying the detailed description of the inventionto be set down hereinafter, a brief summary of the overall operationwill now be given and relative to FIGS. 1-4. As mentioned previously,the symbol A designates case stacks such as the three-high stacksillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. These proceed horizontally on the conveyor18 until they reach the position designated by the symbol B in FIG. 1.When two stacks are positioned as seen in FIG. 1, the drive mechanism 27operates to extend the fingers 26 from the retracted position of FIG. 1to the extended position of FIG. 2. During this operation, the twostacks, B and B, are maintained against movement by the abutment or stop21. Thereafter, the pusher element or ram 23 is extended and the stacksare moved from the B and B' position to the positions designated by thesymbols C and C in FIG. 3. In the illustration given, each dolly 12 isadapted to receive three pairs of stacks, so that the overall operationfor each dolly contemplates three successive reciprocations of the ram23. The second reciprocation is not illustrated, but would result inshifting the two stacks of FIG. 3 to the positions indicated in dottedline and designated by the symbols B and B. Thereafter, thereciprocation of the ram 23 in translating yet another pair of stacksresults in the configuration seen in FIG. 4, where stacks are nowdesignated by the symbols C, D and E with the other row similarlydesignated but for the addition of a prime. Once the stack configurationof FIG. 4 has been achieved, the fingers 26 are retracted to the dottedline position designated 261' in FIG. 4, and the dolly 12 is removedfrom the space between the platform 22 and the mechanism 25, i.e., inthe direction indicated in FIG. 4 and in which a dolly 12 is seen indashed line.

For the purpose of implementing the operational sequence just described,certain controls are employed, and these will now be described inconjunction with FIGS. 6 and 10 of the drawing.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the numeral 29 designates a stop pin orprojection retractable to permit dolly removal of the characterindicated in FIG. 4. The stop pin 29 is provided as part of the transfermechanism and may be a solenoid-operated element reciprocably mounted inthe frame 25a of the mechanism 25.

At the commencement of a dolly loading operation, the first dolly 12 ispositioned against the stop pin 29 and the drive mechanism 27 isenergized by depressing pushbutton PB (FIG. 10) to extend the fingers 26across the dolly into engagement with the platform 22-as seen in FIG. 8.The depression of temporary pushbutton PB energizes coil 27F of motor 87to move fingers 27 forwardly. The extension of the fingers 26 iseffective to operate the double contact limit switch 30 (see FIG. 6) byvirtue of engagement thereof by the projection 3% on one of the fingers26. The limit switch 30 is electrically interconnected with the pushermechanism 20 so as to energize the latter while deenergizing coil 27F.Thus, the pusher mechanism 20, particularly the ram 23, can

only operate when the fingers 26 are extended. Still further, a normallyopen (N.O.) limit switch 31 is provided in the path of a dolly to beloaded, and is engaged by a portion thereof (not shown). The limitswitch 31 is electrically interconnected with the switch 30 and thedrive mechanism 27 (see FIG. 10) so that the fingers can only beextended when a dolly is effectively energizing the limit switch 31.

Each stack A proceeding along the conveyor 18 passes a limit switch 32mounted on the frame of conveyor 18 which engages the bottommost caseand is effective to actuate the stack spacer or stop mechanism 28. Aswill be appreciated from FIG. 6, the conveyor 18 includeslongitudinally-extending, spaced-apart chains so that the spacer stopmechanism 28 is adapted to extend upwardly between the spaced chains18a. Thus, the operation of the spacer mechanism 28 converts the stacksfrom the abutting relation designated A in FIG. 1 to the spaced relationdesignated B and B in FIG. 1.

Two microswitches 33 and 34 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) are provided over thepusher plate or ram 23 for engagement by the stacks proceeding along theconveyor 18. These microswitches are electrically connected in seriesand are normally open.

When the first stack (B) enters the portion of the conveyor 18 alignedwith the pusher mechanism 20, it closes the microswitch 34. The secondstack (B') engages the microswitch, and when both microswitches areclosed, an electrical signal is delivered to the pusher mechanism 20 toadvance the ram 23 and translate the stacks B and B onto the platform 22and while the conveyor is operating. Contact of switches 33 and 34engages the air stop solenoid 38 and maintains contact until the ram 23returns. When the stacks B and B move away from the microswitches 33 and34, a take-over switch 35 on the pusher mechanism 20 is engaged by themoving ram 23, and this switch 35 is held in contact for the entirestroke, thereby providing power for the mechanism 20 notwithstanding thefact that the microswitches 33 and 34 are now open.

The ram continues to advance sufiiciently to move the stacks B and B tothe positions C and C of FIG. 3, whereupon a reversal of stroke occursand the ram 23 returns to its retracted position. The reversal may beeffected through the engagement of a direction switch 36 provided in themechanism 20 by the ram 23. The switch 36 thus effectively serves as anadjustable trigger and can be adjusted to regulate the stroke of forwardtravel, as might be desirable when different sized cases are to betransferred. As seen from FIG. 10, switch 36 is effective to directcurrent to either coil 20F or 20R of the motor (not shown) associatedwith the pusher 20.

Meanwhile, the movement of stacks A on the conveyor 13 is impeded by astop mechanism 37 which is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6 by theinitial dual energization of microswitches 33 and 34. The stop mechanism17 is maintained in the hold-back position by means of the solenoid 38until the ram 23 returns to its retracted position, whereupon thesolenoid 38 is deenergized and the stop mechanism 37 is retracted topermit further advancement of stacks into alignment with the pushermechanism 20. As the ram 23 returns, it trips 8. star wheel (not shown).On the third return trip of the ram 23, the star wheel operates amicroswitch 39 that energizes coil 27R of the drive mechanism 27 toretract the fingers 26. As the fingers 26 complete their retractionstroke, they contact a limit switch 40 which stops the drive mechanism27 and also retracts the stop pin 29 via the operation of a solenoid 41.Solenoid 41 is re resented by elements 41E and 41R in FIG. 10,corresponding to the dual operation of the solenoid in extending andretracting the stop pin 29. The portion 41B is only energizable whenlimit switch 31a is closed while the portion 41R is supplied currentthrough limit switch 40a. The operation of the solenoid 41 in thisfashion is also effective to mechanically energize a limit switch 42which opens a valve (not shown) to deliver air to an air cylinder 43 viasolenoid valve 43F. The air cylinder thereupon operates to pull theloaded dolly 12 out from between the mechanism 25 and the platform 22and simultaneously serves to bring a subsequent dolly into a loadingposition. Solenoid 43R is initially activated by the depression ofpushbutton PB and subsequently by current flowing through swtich 42a,energized by the piston rod of cylinder 43.

Referring now to FIG. 8, it will be seen that an axle 14 of an unloadeddolly is engaged by a dog 44 of the air cylinder 43, and that uponenergization of the cylinder 43, which may be suitably anchored to thefloor as at 45, the dolly to be loaded moves into the loading positionand simultaneously pushes the loaded dolly away from the loadingposition. As seen in FIG. 6, the dollies may be guided by means of atrack 46 anchored to a floor pad 47 which also supports the switch 31.

In FIG. 9, the finger portion of the transfer mechanism 25 can be seen.The frame 25a (see FIG. 7) rotatably supports a sprocket 48, over whichis entrained a chain 49. A lug 50 is secured to the chain 49 and ispivotally secured to a depending lug '51 on each of the fingers 26.Thus, by movement of the chain through rotation of the sprocket 48, thefingers 26 are reciprocated. The chain 49 is driven by a sprocket (notshown) at the far end of the mechanism 25, i.e., at the end associatedwith the drive mechanism 27 which may include a motor, speed reducer,etc. The frame 25a also provides a pedestal 52 for each finger 26, uponwhich is rotatably mounted a roller bearing 53. The finger 26 may beprovided wtih a longitudinally-extending recess for the receipt of thebearing wheel 53 so as to effectively support each finger 26 incantilever fashion when the finger is extended across a dolly 12 andtoward the platform 22. The cantilevered end of each finger 26 isequipped with a roller 54 which engages the recess 24, first climbingthe inclined or beveled portion 24a.

Upon retraction of the fingers 26, the finger is first translatedhorizontally a short distance until the roller 54 reaches the inclinedportion 24a. During this short travel of the fingers, which for allintents and purposes can be minimal, the stacks are supported thereonand are translated into the proper positions over the dolly 12. Ifdesired, the recess 24 need only consist of the inclined portion 24a, orstill further, the initial movement of the fingers upon retraction canbe vertical. As the roller 54 proceeds down the incline 24a, the stacksare moved vertically downward into positions on the dollies, with thesimultaneous cessation of horizontal movement. Thereafter, the fingersare positioned between the rows of ribs on the dollies 12, the openspaces being designated by the numeral 55 in FIG. 8, which permits theirretraction without interfering with the seating of the stacks of caseson the dollies 12.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a detaileddescription of an embodiment of the invention for the purpose ofillustration, many variations in the details herein given may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. In dolly loading apparatus, a horizontally traveling conveyor, aframe beside said conveyor providing a plat- ,form, abutment means onsaid frame positioned above said conveyor, pusher means beside saidconveyor adapted to translate onto said platform articles stopped onsaid conveyor by said abutment means, and a transfer mech anism alignedwith said platform and pusher means and spaced therefrom, said mechanismbeing equipped with an extensible, cantilvered element and means forreciprocating the same relative to'said platform to receive articlestherefrom and deposit the same on a dolly interposed between saidmechanism and platform, said plat- 6 form being equipped with inclinedrecess means for sup porting the cantilevered end of said element at theelevation of said platform.

2. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and without change in caseelevation, at subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, a dolly positioned adjacent said platform,said dolly having spaced case-engaging ribs ex tending upwardlytherefrom, and a transfer mechanism positioned beside said dolly andequipped with fingers extensible across said dolly between said ribsinto contacting engagement with said platform, said platform beingequipped with finger-supporting recesses aligned with said fingers andadapted to support said fingers with the finger top surfaces above saidribs, means in said mechanism for moving said fingers, said fingers whenretracted from said recesses being supportable on said dolly with thefinger top surfaces below said ribs.

3. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and without change in caseelevation, a subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, switch means on said ram frame actuatable byspaced-apart case stacks for energizing said ram-moving means, a dollypositioned adjacent said platform, said dolly having spacedcase-engaging ribs extending upwardly therefrom and a transfer mechanismpositioned beside said dolly and equipped with fingers extensible acrosssaid dolly between said ribs into contacting engagement with saidplatform, said platform being equipped with fingersupporting recessesaligned with said fingers and adapted to support said fingers with thefinger top surfaces above said ribs, means in said mechanism for movingsaid fingers, said fingers when retracted from said recesses beingsupportable on said dolly with the finger top surfaces below said ribs,and stop means on said conveyor responsive to the actuation of said ramframe switch means for retarding cases on said conveyor from advancinginto positions of alignment with said ram.

4. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and without change in caseelevation, a subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, switch means on said ram frame actuatable byspaced-apart case stacks for energizing said ram-moving means, a dollypositioned adjacent said platform, said dolly having spacedcase-engaging ribs extending upwardly therefrom, a transfer mechanismpositioned beside said dolly and equipped with fingers extensible acrosssaid dolly between said ribs into contacting engagement with saidplatform, said platform being equipped with fingersupporting recessesaligned with said fingers and adapted to support said fingers with thefinger top surfaces above said ribs, means in said mechanism for movingsaid fingers, said fingers when retracted from said recesses beingsupportable on said dolly with the finger top surfaces below said ribs,and switch means on said mechanism responsive to the extension of saidfingers and cooperating with the ram frame switch means in energizingsaid ram-moving means.

5. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and without change in caseelevation, a subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, switch means on said ram frame actuatable byspaced-apart case stacks for energizing said ram-moving means, a dollypositioned adjacent said platform, said dolly having spacedcase-engaging ri'bs extending upwardly therefrom, a transfer mechanismpositioned beside said dolly and equipped with fingers extensible acrosssaid dolly between said ribs into contacting engagement With saidplatform, said platform being equipped with fingersupporting recessesaligned with said fingers and adapted to support said fingers with thefinger top surfaces above said ribs, means in said mechanism for movingsaid fingers, said fingers when retracted from said recesses beingsupportable on said dolly with the finger top surfaces below said ribs,switch means on said mechanism responsive to the extension of saidfingers and cooperating with the ram frame switch means in energizingsaid rammoving means, and switch means interposed between said mechanismand platform responsive to the positioning of a dolly thereagainst forenergizing said finger-moving means.

6. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and Without change in caseelevation, a subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, a dolly positioned adjacent said platform,said dolly having spaced case-engaging ribs extending upwardlytherefrom, and a transfer mechanism positioned beside said dolly andequipped with fingers extensible across said dolly between said ribsinto contacting engagement with said platform, said platform beingequipped with fingersupporting recesses aligned with said fingers andadapted to support said fingers with the finger top surfaces above saidribs, means in said mechanism for moving said fingers, said fingers whenretracted from said recesses being supportable on said dolly with thefinger top surfaces below said ribs, said finger-moving means includinga chain and sprocket system, one end of each finger being coupled tosaid chain, and bearing means on said mechanism for supporting saidfingers at spaced distances from the point of chain coupling.

7. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and without change in caseelevation, a subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, a dolly positioned adjacent said platform,said dolly having spaced case-engaging ribs extending upwardlytherefrom, and a transfer mechanism positioned beside said dolly andequipped with fingers extensible across said dolly between said ribsinto contacting engagement with said platform, said platform beingequipped with fingersupporting recesses aligned with said fingers andadapted to support said fingers with the finger top surfaces above saidribs, means in said mechanism for moving said fingers, said fingers whenretracted from said recesses being supportable on said dolly with thefinger top surfaces below said ribs, said finger-moving means includinga chain and sprocket system, one end of each finger being coupled tosaid chain, and bearing means on said mechanism for supporting saidfingers at spaced distances from the point of chain coupling, saidbearing means including roller bearing means on said mechanism and alongitudinallyextending, roller-receiving recess in each finger.

8. In combination, a continuously moving conveyor having a top runadapted to horizontally transport stacked, interlocked cases, a frameadjacent said conveyor providing a platform horizontally aligned withsaid top run on one side thereof so as to receive said cases when thesame are moved laterally of said conveyor and without change in caseelevation, a subframe on said frame extending across said conveyor toretard the advancement of cases on said moving conveyor, a ram framepositioned on the other side of said top run, a ram movably mounted onsaid ram frame, means on said ram frame coupled to said ram for movingthe same across said top run to move a stack of cases retarded by saidsubframe to said platform, a dolly positioned adjacent said platform,said dolly having spaced case-engaging ribs extending upwardlytherefrom, and a transfer mechanism positioned beside said dolly andequipped with fingers extensible across said dolly between said ribsinto contacting engagement with said platform, said platform beingequipped with fingersupporting recesses aligned with said fingers andadapted to sup-port said fingers with the finger top surfaces above saidribs, means in said mechanism for moving said fingers, said fingers whenretracted from said recesses being supportable on said dolly with thefinger top surfaces below said ribs, and means between said mechanismand platform for sequentially moving dollies into position for receivingcases supported on said fingers.

9. In combination, a platform, means for sequentially delivering stackedcases to said platform, pusher means adjacent said platform adapted tomove stacked cases horizontally from said platform, a dolly movable intoa position adjacent said platform to receive cases shifted from saidplatform by said pusher means, a transfer mechanism adjacent said dollyon the side thereof remote from said platform, said transfer mechanismincluding an extensible finger adapted to support a plurality of casestacks, means on said transfer mechanism for reciprocating said finger,and a recess in said platform into which said finger is movable in itsextended position, said recess having a downwardly and outwardlyinclined lip portion.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which chain means interconnects one endof said finger with the means for re- 9 10 ciprocating the same, wherebysaid finger is adapted to 1,142,025 Christoe June 8, 1915 be supportedin cantilever fashion on said mechanism. 1,559,591 Weaver et a1 Nov. 3,1925 1,764,153 Cramer June 17, 1930 References Cited in ihe file of thispatent 1,811,593 Peter on Ju e 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,627,959 Seward Feb. 10, 1953 894,392 Prosser et a1 July 28, 1908

